CHAPTER XV 
SEED-DISPERSAL 
150. Reasons for dispersal.—If all seeds dropped about 
the parent plants, there soon would not be room enough 
for any more to grow, and those that did grow would in- 
terfere with one another seriously. It is of advantage 
both to the parent plant and to the young plants for the 
seeds to be scattered beyond the reach of such rivalry. 
Accordingly, there are many ways by which seeds are dis- 
persed, and sometimes they are carried to great distances. 
When fruits open to discharge seeds, the seeds themselves 
are scattered; but when fruits do not open, the fruit itself 
is transported. 
151. Dispersal by discharge.—In some plants there is a 
mechanical discharge of seeds provided for in the structure 
of the seed-vessel, such 
fruits often being called 
Fic. 248.—The fruit of violet dis- Fic. 249.—The pods of a wild bean (Lotus) 
charging seeds,— After Bar.- twisting in discharging seeds. — After 
LON. BalILuon. 
255 
